Allies and Morrison and Asif Khan Studio have been selected to lead a multi-million-dollar overhaul of the Barbican Centre, a beloved but aging Brutalist landmark and multidisciplinary arts and cultural hub that anchors a sprawling post-war housing estate of the same name in Central London.

We are interested in the notion of revealing, of finding places of untapped potential within and around the walls of the Barbican, remarked Simon Fraser, partner at Allies and Morrison, in a press announcement. Not only will this approach offer substantial savings in embodied carbon, and respect the Centres significant heritage value, but it opens a myriad of opportunities for creative, inclusive reinvention.

The two London-based practices, both boasting a number of high-profile cultural projects under their respective belts includingTate Britain, Shakespeares Globe, and the Museum of London, triumphed in a closely watched international design competition launched by the City of London Corporation in September 2021. A total of five shortlisted teamsrevealed in Januarywere in the running, with Allies and Morrison and Asif Kahn Studio winning out over Adjaye Associates with Benedetti Architects and PUP Architects; BIG with Avanti Architects and POoR Collective; Diller Scofidio + Renfro with McCloy + Muchemwa, and Purcell; and FCBStudios with Bureau de Change, Schulze+Grassov, and Thinc.

Joining Allies and Morrison and Asif Khan Studio on the larger project team are heritage experts Alan Baxter Ltd, engineering and sustainability consultancy Buro Happold, theatre, acoustic, and digital design consultancy Charcoalblue; lighting design firm les claireurs, and Oakland, Californiabased art, urbanism, and landscape architecture practice Hood Design Studio. Also on the team are artistic advisors Julien and Nadia Fall.

The team showed total commitment to preserving the Barbican Centre building as a much-loved global icon, while ensuring it remains a leading creative centre for generations to come, said Tom Sleigh, chair of the City of London Corporations Barbican Centre Board. Were delighted to have this world-class design team working with us to help deliver our creative vision, while also making major improvements to the Barbicans environmental performance.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to shape the future of this iconic centre for arts and learning, and strengthen its ability to play a leading role in the recovery of the City, and the capital, from the pandemic, he added.

All shortlisted proposals were evaluated by a panel of external specialists in equity, diversity and inclusion, and heritage and sustainability who were joined by representatives from the City Corporation and members of its Barbican Centre Board as well as senior Barbican Centre staff.

The panelists were:

As previously reported by AN, the scope of the Barbican Renewal Project, estimated to cost in the range of $68 to $204 million (50 to 150 million), will entail upgrading venues, bringing underused spaces back to life, and improving the welcome, wayfinding and digital technology at the site, reflecting the energy of Londons many communities and the Barbican Centres commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, per the City Corporation. As mentioned in the above quotes from Sleigh and Allies and Morrisons Simon Fraser, sustainability-minded fixes will play a prominent role in the exhaustive-yet-sensitive refresh of the Grade II-listed structure. The City Corporation has pledged to achieve net-zero carbon status for its own operations by 2027 and its investment and supply chain by 2040 as part of its Climate Action Strategy.

Remarked Asif Khan in a statement:

My dad first brought me to the Barbican just after it opened to the public in 1982. From those early visits as a two-year-old we would spend countless Sundays enjoying the free programme and public spaces. For him, the lake was a reminder of the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore. For me it has always felt like home and has been a constant presence in my life. Who would imagine that exactly forty years later there would be an opportunity to contribute towards its future? Amazing things happen like that in this city.

This renewal project will care for the things we all love about the place, solving parts which could have been better, but most importantly helping to open up the Barbican to London and Londoners in ways that couldnt be imagined before. The incredible team we have assembled to bring about this change are embarking on this journey with great excitement and dedication to the vision for the Barbicans new life.

With the winning team now announced, its vision will further be refined and developed with extensive engagement from Barbican stakeholders. The full design brief can be viewed here.

AN will report back when that vision is made public.

Continue reading here:
Allies and Morrison, Asif Khan Studio tapped to revamp Barbican Centre - The Architect's Newspaper

If you want to work with cloud technology, you need to know AWS. This exam training bundle will teach you.

Despite recent inroads from competitors, Amazon Web Services remains king of the cloud. Whether youre looking for a full-time career change or want to start a side hustle, The 2022 AWS Certification Paths Bundle is a step in the right direction.

This comprehensive bundle is curated and offered by CramWise, a leading educational organization that specializes in providing robust exam prep materials for AWS, Cisco and CompTIA certification exams. CramWise provides comprehensive exam simulations via their exclusive CramWise Exam Environment, allowing students to test their knowledge and gain confidence before sitting the real exam.

If youre interested in cloud computing, this bundle will get you on track to ace four essential certification exams: AWS Solutions Architect (SAA-C02), AWS SysOps Administrator (SOA-C02), AWS Developer Associate (DVA-C01) and AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C01). Youll have unlimited lifetime access and updates to each of the exam paths, so you can take as much time as you need. When youre ready, you can simulate the real exam with performance-based questions based on the official AWS certification exam objectives.

Prepare yourself for a career in the cloud. Right now, you can get lifetime access to The 2022 AWS Certification Paths Bundle for 85% off at just $29 (normally $199) while supplies last.

Prices and availability are subject to change.

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Study with these practice exams to become an AWS cloud architect - TechRepublic

Property Details:

Location:6009 Rodgerton Drive, Los Angeles, California

Price:$2,295,000

Year Built:1991-1993

Architect: AGPS

Footprint: 2,083 square feet (two bedrooms, two baths)

From the agent: "Exceptional and award-winning architectural statement nestled beneath the iconic Hollywood sign in Beachwood Canyon. Built as the architects own home, The Experimental House is an internationally published creative space by AGPS, and is as inspiring as it is versatile. Like an urban loft in the lush and quiet hills, the home features two bedrooms and two bathrooms, a sprawling two-story living room, and an open loft. There is also a large studio space with a separate entrance. A true architectural in its innate wisdom and creativity, this is the first time ever offered on the market."

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An Architect Couples Experimental House in the Hollywood Hills Hits the Market for the First Time - Dwell

As architects grapple with low fees, fluctuating workloads and lengthy procurement procedures, a new wave is going it alone: putting their money where their design ethos is and developing their own buildings.

Its not easy. There are multiple challenges involved in acquiring land, raising finance, building and selling for a profit. It requires knowledge and keen business skills which famously are not often taught at architecture school. And, meanwhile, DIY architects have to juggle their work for existing clients. But architects who take the plunge find developing can benefit their practice in a range of ways, potentially including if they get it right making some proper money.

Because its so difficult to make money from architecture, architects are looking around at the other kind of things they can do, says Amanda Baillieu, co-founder of Developers Collective, which helps designers become developers. But, she adds, in contrast with most developers, profit is not always the only motivation: Architects want to build something that showcases what they are capable of.

Suzi Winstanley, director at Turner Works, says her practice has benefited enormously from taking on a public tender to design and build Pop Brixton, a temporary space in south London which supports independent businesses. We used it as a way to expand our portfolio, and it has shifted the practice into doing public works, she says. The practice went on to win projects including Peckham Levels and a temporary building by Hackney Bridge.

Winstanley adds that development projects help balance workloads, as a major problem for architecture practices can be peaks and troughs. Working as your own client allows more flexibility, as there are fewer deadlines outside your control that you have to meet.

Architects who develop also learn a clients language and get an insight into their perspective skills which can help them win work and work more smoothly with clients.

The main niche for architect-developers is small and complex sites which larger developers are less interested in, according to Baillieu. Planning is a major risk for a developer, but thats where architects have an advantage they understand that risk, she says.

There are several approaches to finding sites, including working with estate agents and land promoters and keeping a lookout for auctions but these options come with a danger of overpaying. Finding derelict plots in the neighbourhood where you live and work, and then approaching the landowner directly, can be a better bet. Small, leftover sites are good which nobody else is going to develop because they cant be bothered, says Baillieu.

Raising capital is also a problem, especially for a first-time developer without cash to invest from previous projects. One place to start is grants from Homes England or the government, for instance, that are keen to promote small developers and regenerate brownfield sites and high streets. Another option is to speak to a variety of investors, including potential buyers. Once the planning stage has been completed, it also becomes easier to borrow from high street banks, although this is still expensive.

Despite the global pandemic and Brexit and material prices which swing wildly by the day Baillieu says it is nevertheless a good time for architects to get involved. There is so much uncertainty in the market its a good time to buy sites, she says.

There is also the political will for more design-led development of small sites and homes in particular. Housing secretary Michael Gove said last month that there are all sorts of unhappy consequences of the cartel of volume housebuilders who operate in a particular way. If that sentiment led to further financing of small developers and a greater emphasis on selling small sites held by the public sector, it could present a golden opportunity for architects to get involved.

A series of mini-profiles of architect-developers will be published this week, starting with Mae and Pitman Tozer

Architects as developers: The new wave of practices building their own projects

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Architects as developers: The new wave of practices building their own projects - Architect's Journal

Monograph, a startup providing a cloud-based platform for architecture and design professionals to manage their projects, announced today that it has raised $20 million in its Series B funding round. New investor Tiger Global led the round, with participation from Tishman Speyer and existing investors Index Ventures and Homebrew Ventures.

The round brings Monographs total funding raised to $29.3 million since it was founded in 2019. Monograph last raised in May 2021, bringing in $7.4 million for its Series A.

Three design technologists started the company Robert Yuen, Moe Amaya and Alex Dixon all of whom have a background in architecture. Its software helps architectural practices manage many different aspects of their operational systems, including timesheets, budgets, human resources and invoicing; $500 million worth of projects have been executed on the platform to date.

The San Francisco-based company has grown to 33 employees after beginning 2021 with just eight, CEO and co-founder Robert Yuen told TechCrunch in an email. The new funding will be used to further grow the product and engineering teams.

The pandemic has accelerated growth among smaller design firms as the demand for new residential renovations and construction grows, Yuen wrote. As hiring in the industry picks up pace, Monograph is building a virtual community of professionals in the field through sharing content and job openings, on top of investing in its core software product.

Yuen highlighted Monographs budgeting solution, which allows project managers to view project-level finances in real time, as particularly unique given the industrys reliance on spreadsheets. According to Yuen, the typical project manager who does not use Monograph would have to wait an average of one month to understand whether they were under or over budget on a project.

John Curtius, partner at Tiger Global, was closely involved in the firms investment in Monograph.

Monograph is built for architects by architects, which is why it excels at providing a solution to minimize the time spent managing a project, Curtius said in an email to TechCrunch.

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Monograph raises $20M Series B to help designers and architects manage their operations - TechCrunch

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Image: Burst/Pexels

The Architects Foundation has announced the launch of theLarge Firm Roundtable (LFRT) ARE Scholarship, providing support for aspiring Black architects within the licensing process. Through the scholarship, the organization is aiming to double the number of licensed Black architects in the United States by 2030.

The scholarship will cover the cost of the ARE, a one-year subscription to the AIAs exam prep course ArchiPrep, one year of dues to either the AIA or NOMA, one year NCARB record fees, and $500 in study materials. To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must identify as Black or African American, be eligible for the ARE, hold an NCARB Record, and be either an Associate AIA or a member of NOMA.

To apply for the more than 30 awards available under LFRT, applicants must submit a brief 500-word personal statement, a professional biography and/or rsum, and a maximum of three optional letters of recommendation. Applications to the 2022 LFRT cycle close on Friday, January 14, 2022.

The initiative follows months after NOMA and NCARB released a report focusing on the disparities in architectural licensing examinations on the basis of race, age, and gender. According to surveys carried out by the organizations, only 26% of ARE candidates feel confident they can afford the ARE, with almost 50% spending $500 or more on study material.

African American and Latino licensing candidates are 7% and 9% less likely than white candidates respectivelyto receive financial help from their firms, while African American candidates are14% more likely than white candidates to report personal debt as a factor impacting their ability to afford the ARE.

ARE pass rates for white candidates are 27-38% higher than their Black or African American peers, while Latina women are 11% more likely than white women to report spending over $500 on study material, and 20% more likely to report difficulty paying for the exam.

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ARE scholarships for aspiring Black architects launched by the Architects Foundation - Archinect

Work has begun on Beijing-founded MAD Architects third US project: a 16-storey residential building in Denver that appears to have been ripped open to reveal its green stuffing.

One River North is a 66m-tall apartment block made up of 187 units and 1,200 sq m of green spaces, including a landscaped walkway that winds over four floors and a rooftop terrace complete with pool, spa and garden.

The projects principal developers are The Max Collaborative, Uplands Real Estate Partners and Wynne Yasmer Real Estate.

Davis Partnership Architects is serving as the executive architect and Saunders Construction is acting as the main contractor for the project; both are Denver companies.

The crack in the faade, which covers 10 storeys, is a reference to Colorados dramatic mountain scenery. Kevin Ratner, co-founder of The Max Collaborative, commented that the aim was to create a model that shows how we should be surrounding ourselves in the natural environment, bringing nature into our homes and creating authentic, biophilic experiences coupled with modern comforts and conveniences.

He added: The nature-inspired design by MAD Architects was influenced by Colorados legendary landforms and merges nature and architecture to inspire a well-balanced life. Its glass faade is likewise ribbed with louvres that regulate sunlight and soften its visual presence, shaping a serene retreat in the sky.

Mad was founded in 2004 in Beijing. One River North is the firms third project to break ground in the US, following the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, under way in Los Angeles, and the Gardenhouse, which opened in Los Angeles in 2020. A design for The Star office building on Sunset Boulevard, central Hollywood, was unveiled in September.

Renderings courtesy of One River North.

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Work begins on Mad Architects' cracked Denver residential tower - GCR

Architects will play the legendary Abbey Road Studios on December 11 for all the world to see via livestream. The band will be joined by the Parallax Orchestra, and you can grab tickets for the stream here.

If you're not into the livestream idea, you can also catch Architects at one of the below 2022 North American dates.

9/6 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue9/8 Milwaukee, WI The Rave9/9 Chicago, IL Riviera Theatre9/10 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall9/12 Indianapolis, IN Deluxe, Old National Centre9/13 Cleveland, OH Agora Theatre & Ballroom9/15 Royal Oak, MI Royal Oak Music Theatre9/16 Toronto, ON Rebel9/17 Montreal, QC MTelus9/20 Boston, MA House Of Blues9/21 New York, NY Terminal 59/22 Philadelphia, PA The Fillmore9/23 Silver Spring, MD The Fillmore9/26 Norfolk, VA The NorVa9/27 Raleigh, NC The Ritz9/30 Atlanta, GA Heaven, The Masquerade10/1 St. Petersburg, FL Jannus Live10/3 Dallas, TX Granada Theater10/4 San Antonio, TX Aztec Theatre10/6 Tempe, AZ Marquee Theatre10/7 Los Angeles, CA The Novo By Microsoft

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ARCHITECTS Announces December Livestream With An Orchestra - Metal Injection

As global warming engulfs the planet, the Middle East is becoming increasingly uninhabitable.

Dubai Design Week, which is currently taking place, offers insights into how young designers in the region are trying to adapt to a hotter future. At the Global Grad Show, where design and architecture students share solutions for social and environmental problems, many of the ideas center on solving problems currently affecting the Middle East.

As COP26the United Nations Climate Conferencecontinues in Glasgow, Scotland, tens of thousands of young people have taken to the streets expressing frustration with how world leaders are tackling (or not tackling) the climate catastrophe. Activist Greta Thunberg, for instance, argued that the conference was exclusionary, leaving out the voices of those most affected by climate change.

Young Middle Easterners already seeing global warming wreak havoc on their lives certainly fit into that category. Dima Banat, for instance, grew up in Jordan and moved to Abu Dhabi to pursue a degree in architecture. Shes in her early 20s and shes observed that over the course of her own short lifetime, the temperature in the region has gotten hotter. As an architect, shes been thinking about how global warming might change the landscape of cities, from trapping heat to causing floods.

For Samer Ibrahim, who is from Lebanon and recently finished his architecture degree, the onslaught of global warming is a source of great anxiety, but he has not yet given up hope that humanity can avert the worst disasters. I am hopeful, but also I have my concerns, he says. People have been trying to tackle global warming for a long time, but I think it only takes one tipping point to cause change to happen quickly. As designers and architects, it is our responsibility to come up with effective, convincing solutions.

Here are three standout ideas from the Global Grad Show from Banat, Ibrahim, and architect Danyia Najee that could help the Middle East adapt to climate changeand avert future disaster.

Banat was inspired by mangroves as she created her project, called Al Selah. The mangrove is one of the most important trees in the United Arab Emirates, known for growing in salty water, surviving harsh weather conditions, and filtering out salt and toxins through its root system. The resilience of this vegetation inspired Banat to develop a skyscraper that floats on the water in the Mangrove National Park in Abu Dhabi. The structure itself is inspired by the mangrovethe roots are represented by a base connected to the water, the stem is the central building, and the leaves are platforms full of plants and trees.

The purpose of the building, Banat says, is to bring the city of Abu Dhabi into nature, and simultaneously bring nature into the city. The structure is designed to house offices, homes, and shops. People who walk through it will be surrounded by lush vegetation, and also have a view of the park around it. Besides being beautiful, Banat has designed this structure to deal with some of the immediate effects of climate change. Abu Dhabi is a modern metropolis without much greenery; introducing greenery into these buildings could cool the city temperatures by providing shade and moisture, while actively capturing carbon.

Climate change is likely to lead to extreme weather patterns in the Middle East, including flooding, Banat says. This is why she strategically located the building on a body of water. Researchers say that a floating community could be a possible solution to this looming crisis of flooding, she says.

Global warming is creating harsher conditions for growing food in the Middle East, which will lead to more food insecurity and famine in the region. A majority of produce in the United Arab Emirates is imported, and over time, this could mean that some local crops may go extinct.

[Image: Danyia Najee/courtesy Global Grad Show]Anteseedent, a project by Danyia Najee, who recently graduated from the architecture program at the American University in Dubai, is a complex of buildings that contains a system to protect seeds in a vault under the soil until they are strong enough to penetrate the surface. The site would also serve as a place to educate the public on seed science and crop biodiversity so they can take an active role in preserving these crops for the next generation.

To tackle food shortages and also create more green spaces in the city of Beirut, Ibrahim proposes building a system of stunning vertical farms. The mixed-use buildings will feature residential homes and shops, connected by walkways that feature trees and vines, encouraging social interaction in the midst of nature. One problem is that there is a lack of community in cities, he says. There is also a loss of connection between people and nature. My project is designed to solve the social, environmental, and economic problems in the city; its designed to benefit the planet but also the well-being of the people living on it.

[Image: Samer Ibrahim/courtesy Global Grad Show]Ibrahims project, which he calls Beirut Urban Utopia, is designed to be a vertical envelope built around a tall building. The envelope will feature creeping plants and trees to provide shade and moisture, while allowing airflow to move strategically throughout the structure. Less energy would be required to cool buildings, in a region where air-conditioning is a must to be livable. Within these buildings, Ibrahim envisions a system of hydroponic farms that will be aesthetically pleasing, while also providing food for those living and working within the space.

Importantly, Ibrahim says that this envelope concept can be retrofitted onto any existing building, which is far easier than tearing buildings down and rebuilding them more sustainably. As architects and designers, we have a responsibility to come up with solutions that dont have an enormous carbon footprint to execute, he says.

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Young architects prepare for the devastation of global warming in the Middle East - Fast Company

tropical architecture in thailand

architects 49 designs a dwelling in thailand dubbed diagonal house in celebration of its clients love for tropical architecture. they wanted something in the teams signature style, but also something unique and never seen from the studio before. intrigued and eager to create a sense of familiarity in a work that is different and new, the team looked to its past works and proceeded to design with a twist. in fact, the design team literally twisted the core of the house to achieve a new design that fits into its natural context, especially the surrounding slopes and trees.

images W workspace | @wworkspace

because the diagonal house is a multi-family residence, the team at architects 49 carefully organizes the layout with attention to the movements and circulation of the residents. living quarters for each family were clearly separated, while still maintaining convenient contact with one another. in this way, the project achieves a sense of a familiar environment within the new design.

the dwelling is realized with a material palette that is popular in the area, but not commonly used in residential designs. the team notes its use of brass, which is more often found in palaces or temples. these brass elements are integrated into the home to create a touch of modernity and to reflect the owners fondness for opulence. this complements the tropical architecture base which was designed to be simple and down to earth.

architects 49 designs its diagonal house so that is might age naturally and see its beauty evolve across time. eventually the brass will change from gold to brown and ultimately turn black while the gold teak will fade in color as it ages. this intentional detail requires less maintenance as the materials are allowed to exhibit their natural properties over time and the beauty of the home is naturally enhanced.

as these changes occur, the atmosphere of the dwelling evolves in turn. the design team notes that this can be likened to the vibrant color of leaves brought about by the changing seasons. the natural world is subtly and profoundly embedded in this house through the selection of materials and its careful placement within the surrounding landscape, essentially merging the architecture and natural environment together. this house is an expression of time and nature.

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thailand-based architects 49 integrates its diagonal house into the forested landscape - Designboom